Lightning strikes twice

Lightning strikes twice

The Newsells Park Stud bred Lightning Spear led in the final strides to win the Group 2 Grosvenor Sport Celebration Mile at Goodwood for the second successive time.

Trained by David Simcock, he has been an extremely consistent servant for his owner Qatar Racing and has now amassed prize money of over £600,000.

Other success at Group level includes finishing third in the Gr.1 Sussex Stakes, Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes and second in the 2nd Gr.2 Summer Mile Stakes.

David Redvers, Qatar Racing's manager said; "Lightning Spear takes that little bit more stoking up to get going now but they hadn't gone as fast as we'd hoped but he's genuine and tough and a proper horse. We've an exciting autumn to look forward to. I don't think he quite gets the stiff mile at Ascot and I would imagine the Foret is a strong possibility but Sheikh Fahad makes the decisions not me. We've always believed he can win a Group 1 and still do."

By Pivotal, Lightning Spear is out of Atlantic Destiny (Royal Academy), also the dam of Stakes horses Ocean War, First Destinity and Seaway.